A high-ranking intelligence official from France confirmed today that a Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force was shot down by Pakistan. So far, Indian authorities have not issued an official response to these statements. French sources indicated that authorities in Paris are investigating whether Pakistan managed to shoot down more than one Rafale aircraft during the recent clashes.
Meanwhile, images of wreckage from crashed aircraft in the Indian-administered Kashmir area show labels from French manufacturers, although experts point out that it is not possible to determine if they specifically come from a Rafale model. The Rafale, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, is a twin-engine multirole fighter weighing approximately 10 tons, equipped with versatile armament that includes a 30 mm cannon for air-to-air combat and ground support, air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, and cruise missiles.
India had acquired 36 of these aircraft before the current escalation. Dassault Aviation, the manufacturing company, has not responded to requests for comments on the incident. The French Armed Forces have also not issued official statements regarding the event so far. If fully confirmed, this incident would mark the first time one of the sophisticated French-made war aircraft is lost in combat.
This situation raises alarms about the type of aircraft and missile used by Pakistan against the latest French technology, specifically the JF-17 fighter armed with a PL-15E missile, which will spark a strong debate about the quality of Chinese armament gaining prestige. The French confirmation comes amid claims from Pakistan, which asserted it shot down five Indian Air Force aircraft in response to previous attacks, including three Rafale units.
